Professional Grooming Course
Become a Professional Pet Groomer and start an exciting new career!
Jurassic Bark is one of the only grooming schools in British Columbia offering a hands-on, in person Professional Pet Grooming course. We cover everything from handling techniques and reading animal body language, to first aid treatments, customer relations, business management, and much more. Our course will equip you to properly and safely groom dogs, cats, and small animals, from beloved companion to show ring ready.
Curriculum
Completion of this course will provide graduates the knowledge and skills required to successfully and safely provide full grooming services for dogs, cats and small animals, if desired. Students are not required to learn cat and small animal grooming if this is not an area of interest.
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Topics covered will include nail trimming and grinding, dental care, ear cleaning and plucking, external gland expression, proper coat preparation (bathing, blow-drying, brushing, de-shedding, de-matting,) hair cutting with trimmers, clippers, blades, and attachment guard combs, scissoring, blending and corrective grooming, common pet styles, breed-specific trims, grooming for the show ring and hand-stripping. We will also cover anatomy, breed identification, handling techniques, managing behavioural issues, reading animal body language, health concerns and emergency first aid, along with customer relations, record keeping, shop management and more.
Prerequisites
Successful applicants will be familiar with and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, be physically fit and able to lift heavy weight throughout the day. They will be efficient, able to multi-task, follow direction, retain information, have an eye for detail and possess excellent people skills. Previous experience handling and working with animals is strongly recommended.
This course is aimed towards those seriously interested in pet grooming as a career and not recommended as a retirement hobby or a just-for-fun experience.
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Grooming prioritizes the care and well-being of beloved family members, which is not a responsibility to be taken lightly. In Canada, pet grooming is currently an un-regulated (and therefore self-regulated) industry. Safely working with living animals, sharp tools and heated dryers requires caution and attentiveness. Senior and/or immuno-compromised pets require extra precautions and we ask potential candidates to give due consideration to all of these factors.
Commitment & Cost
We offer full flexibility in regards to course start date and days of the week dedicated for attendance. This course involves working one-on-one with a Professional Groomer and as such we take no more than two students at a time. We require a commitment of 3 full days a week for a duration of 6 months (approximately 600 total course hours.)
The cost for this course is $3999.99 + GST. The cost of tools, equipment and text books is extra and is the sole responsibility of the student. This is estimated to be between $1500.00 - $2000.00. Students will be provided with a list of recommended/required equipment and our staff are happy to assist with sourcing.
Meet Your Instructor
The primary instructor for this course is shop owner, Selena Elrod.
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Selena has been grooming professionally since 2006 and comes from a background in farming and veterinary medicine. She is also a successful breeder/handler/competitor with experience in the conformation show ring, obedience, agility, herding, IGP and various other dog sports. She is a Certified Obedience Instructor and Certified Master Trainer, having graduated from Canada West Canine Centre in 2009.
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She has founded and operated multiple pet care facilities and has been teaching pet grooming since 2010. She has mentored under several highly successful and talented groomers and is a strong believer in continuing and ongoing education to keep up with the latest knowledge and trends within the industry.
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Her past students have gone on to successfully certify, compete, and open their own businesses across Canada and the US. She has a thorough but easy-going teaching style, making education both fun and memorable. She maintains relationships with several graduates and shop owners, enabling her to assist with employment opportunities for future students.